A Utah couple were arrested Monday afternoon on drug charges, following a traffic stop in Pottawattamie County. According to Sheriff Jeff Danker, the driver of the vehicle, 26-year-old Somphavanh Childs and her male passenger, 23-year-old Samson Phommabout, were charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, prohibited acts, and a drug tax stamp violation. Childs and Phommabout are being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on $5,000 bond, each.

Danker says Deputy Brian Miller stopped a Chevy Malibu for speeding on Interstate 80 at around 12:30-p.m. just north of the Highway 6 exit near Council Bluffs.  After issuing a speeding citation and speaking with the pair, the deputy suspected they may be involved in criminal activity. He asked for and received, permission to search their vehicle. During the search, he discovered 55 pounds of hydroponic marijuana in vacuum sealed bags.

The Sheriff says also, a Council Bluffs man was arrested on Monday for allegedly breaking into a house on River Road and taking metal from the home. 23-year old Joshua Thompson was taken into custody after the owner of the home noticed suspicious activity and stopped to investigate. Thompson reportedly took off and hid in the creek, but was located a short time later by deputies and an Iowa State Patrol Trooper.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man has been arrested after officials say he led authorities on a chase that ended when he crashed his car into the WinnaVegas casino in Salix. The Iowa State Patrol says 54-year-old Robert Bechtel, of Cherokee, is charged with drunken driving and numerous traffic violations. His case isn’t on the online court system and it’s not known if he has an attorney.

The patrol says the chase began Monday night when a trooper tried to help a motorist parked on the shoulder of Interstate 29 near Salix. When the trooper stopped, the driver took off. Authorities say the chase ended when Bechtel pulled into the casino’s parking lot, lost control of his car and hit the building.

Three people suffered what were described by Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westring, as non-life threatening injuries during a two-vehicle crash this afternoon, southeast of Anita. The accident was reported just after 3:45-p.m., near 76091 Glendale Road. No other details are currently available.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says a Page County man was sentenced today (Tuesday) to 19 and a-half years in prison for his role in a robbery, and car jacking.  43-year old Tiran Rodez Casteel, of Coin, was also convicted on charges which included obstruction of justice and witness tampering. In addition, Casteel was sentenced to a consecutive term of 84 months in prison for brandishing a firearm during the car jacking, for a total prison term of 26 1/2 years.

United States District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt also ordered Casteel to serve a five year term of supervised release following release from prison, and pay $400 to the Crime Victim Fund. Restitution was ordered to remain open until the value of the stolen coins can be determined.

The case against him revolved around the September 11, 2008, robbery of Darlene Eitzen at her rural Page Countyfarm home. The woman was held at gun point while Casteel and his son, Devan Casteel, robbed Mrs. Eitzen of her rare and valuable coin collection, which she had acquired after her husband’s death.

Federal jurisdiction for the prosecution existed because Casteel had taken Mrs. Eitzen’s car during the robbery, in violation of the federal carjacking statute. While awaiting trial on the federal charges Casteel attempted to have Mrs Eitzen killed so she could not testify at his trial. That resulted in addition charges being filed in federal court for obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

The case was investigated by the Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Division of the United States Department of Justice (ATF), the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Page County Sheriffs Office. It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Iowa.